City's ex-mayor assaults 2 drivers of chicken truck

Mumbai: In another incident of politician’s misconduct, a video of Shiv Sena corporator from Mahim and former mayor of Mumbai, Milind Vaidya, assaulting two truck drivers for unauthorised parking of chicken trucks went viral on the internet.

The incident took place in Mahim on Friday morning around 10.15 am on Friday when Vaidya accompanied by his aides walked up to the drivers of the chicken trucks and slapped them for not shifting the vehicles despite repeated requests. Local residents had been complaining of the foul smell that emitted from the truck that caused inconvenience for people on their way to the railway station.

In the video that made headlines, Vaidya was seen saying that he was forced to take the law into his hands as the civic authorities and traffic police had failed to take action.

“I want to tell the people of Mahim’s fishermen colony and police colony that I am aware you suffer on your way to the railway station due to these chicken trucks. I complained to civic and traffic authorities to remove these trucks but they have not paid any heed to my complaints for the past two-and-a-half years. I think the concerned officers are refraining from taking action due to their personal interests with the traders. Therefore, I'm forced to take the law in my hands for these illegally parked chicken trucks.”

Local activists also said that the chicken trucks were not hygenic and dirtied the area.

Activist Irfan Machiwala said, “Even in 2017 we had complained about this issue. It is true that many chicken trucks are parked on road. The big trucks transfer the chickens to small tempos from where they are transported elsewhere. These trucks don’t seem to be washed at all. These unauthorised parked trucks stink and give out extremely foul smell but no actions have been taken.”

However, assistant muni-cipal commissioner of G-North ward Kiran Dighavkar said, “The unauthorised parking of trucks fall under traffic department, however, we will serve them notice for hygiene maintenance and parking of vehicles in nea-rest public parking lot.”